scholarly journals A comparison of the socio-economic determinants of growth retardation in South African and Filipino infants

2008 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1220-1228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura L Jones ◽  
Paula L Griffiths ◽  
Linda S Adair ◽  
Shane A Norris ◽  
Linda M Richter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Maternal Education ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Nutrition Survey ◽  
Individual Variables ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Context Specific

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the association between household socio-economic status (SES) at birth and poor infant growth such as small for gestational age (SGA) and stunting across two different socio-cultural settings: South Africa and the Philippines.DesignData were from two longitudinal birth cohorts, the Birth to Twenty (Bt20) study in South Africa and the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey (CLHNS) in the Philippines.SubjectsBt20 infants (n 2293 total; reduced to 758 (SGA), 450 (stunting 1 year) and 401 (stunting 2 years)) and CLHNS infants (n 2513 total; reduced to 2161 (SGA), 1820 (stunting 1 year) and 1710 (stunting 2 years)).ResultsCLHNS infants were significantly more likely to be born SGA (20·9 v. 11·7 %) and be stunted at 1 year (32·6 v. 8·7 %) and 2 years (48·9 v. 21·1 %) compared with Bt20 infants. Logistic regression analyses showed that SES (index) was a significant predictor of stunting at 1 and 2 years of age in the CLHNS cohort. SES (index or individual variables) was not a significant predictor of SGA in either cohort, or of stunting in the Bt20 cohort. Maternal education, ownership of a television and toilet facilities were all independent predictors of stunting in the CLHNS cohort.ConclusionsThe social and economic milieu within the Philippines appears to place CLHNS infants at greater risk of being born SGA and being stunted compared with Bt20 infants. The present research highlights the importance of investigating the individual SES variables that predict infantile growth faltering, to identify the key areas for context-specific policy development and intervention.

scholarly journals A trickle-down model of task and development i-deals

2018 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
pp. 1508-1534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasin Rofcanin ◽  
Mireia Las Heras ◽  
P Matthijs Bal ◽  
Beatrice IJM Van der Heijden ◽  
Didem Taser Erdogan
Keyword(s):  
Social Information Processing ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Work Outcomes ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Work Arrangements ◽  
Prosocial Motives ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Zero Sum ◽  
Trickle Down

In today’s competitive landscape, employees increasingly negotiate idiosyncratic deals (i-deals), referring to personalized work arrangements that address recipients’ unique work needs and preferences. While i-deals unfold in a dyadic context between subordinates and their managers, the consequences of i-deals concern everyone including co-workers and the organization. Focusing on task and development i-deals, we propose a trickle-down model to explore whether and how organizations benefit from i-deals. First, we argue that managers’ task and development i-deals cascade down to their subordinates, leading them to have similar i-deals with downstream consequences for co-workers and the organization. Furthermore, we propose that effective implementation of task and development i-deals are context-specific: we integrate the role of managers’ servant leadership as a boundary condition to explore the association between managers’ and subordinates’ task and development i-deals. We also integrate subordinates’ prosocial motives to explore the association between subordinates’ task and development i-deals and their work outcomes. We draw on work adjustment, social learning and social information processing theories to study our proposed associations. The results of a matched employee–manager dataset collected in the Philippines support our hypothesized model. This study contributes to i-deals research by: (1) testing whether and how task and development i-deals can be mutually beneficial for all the involved parties; and (2) revealing how the context, at the individual level, explains how and when task and development i-deals can best be implemented in workplaces. This study highlights that individualization of HR practices need not be a zero-sum game.

scholarly journals Linear growth and mid-childhood cognitive outcomes in three birth cohorts of term-born children: an approach to integrating three growth models to explore critical windows

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. e036850
Author(s):  
Michael Leung ◽  
Aditi Krishna ◽  
Seungmi Yang ◽  
Diego G Bassani ◽  
Daniel E Roth
Keyword(s):  
Early Life ◽  
Growth Models ◽  
Change Score ◽  
Primary Outcome Measure ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Cognitive Outcomes ◽  
Physical Growth ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Nutrition Survey ◽  
Prenatal Growth

ObjectiveTo illustrate that a mediation framework can help integrate inferences from three growth models to enable a comprehensive view of the associations between growth during specific developmental windows and mid-childhood IQ.DesignWe analysed direct and indirect associations between mid-childhood IQ and length/height growth in five early-life age intervals bounded by conception, birth, early, mid and late infancy, and mid-childhood using estimates from three growth models (lifecourse, conditional change and change score) applied to three historical birth cohorts.Participants and setting12 088 term-born children from the Collaborative Perinatal Project (CPP) in the USA (n=2170), the Promotion of Breastfeeding Intervention Trial (PROBIT) in Belarus (n=8275) and the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey (CLHNS) in the Philippines (n=1643).Primary outcome measureMid-childhood IQ.ResultsOur analyses revealed cross-cohort and cross-interval variations in the direct and indirect effects of foetal and early childhood physical growth on mid-childhood IQ. For example, in CPP, there was a direct association of prenatal growth with IQ that was not evident in the other cohorts, whereas in PROBIT and CLHNS, we observed that foetal and early growth-IQ associations were mediated through size in later periods.ConclusionLifecourse, conditional change and change score growth models yield complementary inferences when appropriately interpreted. Future longitudinal studies of associations of early-life growth with later outcomes would benefit from adopting a causal mediation framework to integrate inferences from multiple complementary growth models.

scholarly journals Relationship between maternal characteristics and stunting in children aged 0 to 23 months in the Philippines

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alea Paula V. Hinojosa ◽  
◽  
Nancy A. Tandang ◽  
Divine Grace C. Domingo ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Maternal Education ◽  
Model Fitting ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Nutrition Survey ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Maternal Characteristics ◽  
Nutrition Research ◽  
Nutritional Status Of Children

Introduction: Stunting is the most prevalent form of child malnutrition worldwide, and is the best overall indicator of growth. This study aimed to determine the relationship between maternal characteristics and nutritional status of children aged 0-23 months based on their length/height-for-age. Method: The study used data from the 2015 Updating Survey conducted by the Philippines’ Food and Nutrition Research Institute – Department of Science and Technology. It employed a stratified multi-stage sampling technique covering all regions in the Philippines. Mothers (n=5,254) of sampled children 0-23 months were the respondents of the Maternal Health and Nutrition survey. The length-for-age z-scores (LAZ) of children and maternal characteristics were analysed. Rao-Scott Chi-square test was used for association analysis. Logistic regression was performed for model fitting. Results: A quarter (25.2%) of children aged 0-23 months in the Philippines at the time of the survey were stunted, with the highest prevalence (36.2%) observed among 12-23 months. Children being stunted or normal in height was associated with prenatal services, maternal nutritional status, education, and duration of lactation. Maternal education (OR: 0.39; p=0.012), age-appropriate breastfeeding (OR: 0.63; p=0.042), and prenatal services like tetanus toxoid vaccination (OR: 0.67; p=0.011) and ultrasound (OR: 0.71; p=0.025) lowered the likelihood of a child being stunted. Conclusion: It is recommended to strengthen and intensify service delivery among pregnant and lactating women because of the implication of maternal factors to the length-for-age status of children 0-23 months.

scholarly journals Comparative Models of Biological and Social Pathways to Predict Child Growth through Age 2 Years from Birth Cohorts in Brazil, India, the Philippines, and South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 148 (8) ◽  
pp. 1364-1371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda M Richter ◽  
F Mark Orkin ◽  
Gabriela D Roman ◽  
Darren L Dahly ◽  
Bernardo L Horta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Child Growth ◽  
Birth Cohorts

South African Christian Experiences: From colonialism to democracy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelebogile Thomas Resane
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
African Women ◽  
History Of Christianity ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Rich ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
The Church

Theologically and historically sound, Resane’s South African Christian Experiences: From Colonialism to Democracy, envisions a robust Christianity that acknowledges itself as “a community of justified sinners” who are on an eschatological journey of conversion. This Christianity does not look away from its historical sins and participation in corruption and evils such as Apartheid. Resane argues that failing to adhere to Jesus’ teachings is not a reason for Christianity to recede from public life. Rather, doing so further pushes Christianity away from Jesus who emphatically called for the Church to engage in the liberation of society. By framing how the Christian must engage with his/her community as a component to belief – that saying must mean doing for belief to happen – Resane frames his theology as an eschatological clarion call for internal and social renewal, an interplay between the individual Christian, the communal churches of Christ, and society at large. Dr J. Sands – Northwest University “Drawing from our own wells” is a prophetic call for theologians to develop context specific liberation theologies drawn from their own contexts, history, experiences, and different types of knowledge. This book locates its loci in the historical and contemporary context in South Africa, as well as drawing from the rich legacy of liberation theologies including African, Kairos, Black, Circle and many other theologies to address contemporary issues facing South Africa. Resane’s book contributes towards enhancing the much needed local theologies of liberation based on contextual realities and knowledges. Dr Nontando Hadebe – Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians South African Christian Experiences: From Colonialism to Democracy captures the societal binaries that are part and parcel of Christianity, especially in the African context. The definition of God is also affected by these binaries, such as, is God Black or White? The book proposes both the non-binary approach, and the process of inculturation. The work also shows how not to have one theology, but different theologies, hence references and expansions on the Trinity, Pneumatology, Christology, etc. Furthermore, this work portrays Christ as seen from an African point of view, and what it means to attach African attributes to Christ, as opposed to the traditional Western understanding. Rev. Fr. Thabang Nkadimeng – History of Christianity, University of KwaZulu Natal Resane has dug deep into the history of the church in South Africa, and brought the experiences of Indigenous people and Christians, including theologians, to the attention of every reader. The author demonstrates an intense knowledge of the history of Christianity. He also portrays that there is still more to be done, both from the Christian historical perspective and the theological perspective for the church to be relevant to all the contexts in which it finds itself. Prof. Mokhele Madise – Department of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology, University of South Africa

scholarly journals Estimating the pathways through which maternal education affects stunting: evidence from an urban cohort in South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 1810-1818 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Casale ◽  
Gabriel Espi ◽  
Shane A Norris
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Maternal Education ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Quality Care ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Birth Cohort Study

AbstractObjectiveTo estimate the determinants of stunting using rich data from a birth cohort study from urban South Africa and to examine the various mechanisms, both proximate and distal, through which maternal education affects stunting.DesignMultivariate regression analysis using birth cohort data, where the outcome variable was stunting at age 2 years, and multiple mediator analysis to identify pathways from maternal education to stunting.SettingSouth Africa’s largest metropolitan area, Soweto-Johannesburg.SubjectsParticipants of Birth to Twenty Plus, a longitudinal cohort study of children born in 1990 (n 691).ResultsIn multivariate analysis, the birth weight Z-score (−0·084; P<0·001; 95 % CI −0·11, −0·06), the mother’s openness towards modern health care, captured by a vaccination score (−0·05; P=0·04; 95 % CI −0·10, −0·00), and a better-quality care environment (−0·015; P=0·04; 95 % CI −0·03, −0·00) were found to be negatively associated with stunting. Having experienced symptoms of illness related to ears and eyes increased the risk of stunting (0·038; P=0·01; 95 % CI 0·01, 0·07). Results of the mediation analysis showed that maternal education had an indirect effect on stunting largely through socio-economic status and the antenatal environment (measured by the birth weight Z-score).ConclusionsOverall, many of the factors that were protective against stunting in the final analysis, whether they operated through maternal education or not, were related to the mother’s contribution to the child’s life. This reinforces the idea that to minimise stunting, enhanced antenatal and postnatal services to better support and empower mothers may be important.

scholarly journals A study of causes of delay and cost overrun in office construction projects in the eThekwini Municipal Area, South Africa

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Nafkote Tesfahun Adugna
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Project Planning ◽  
Cost Overrun ◽  
Cost Overruns ◽  
Time Extension ◽  
Individual Variables ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Poor Site

On-time completion and conformity with assigned cost of every project are the most important factors in the success of project plans. Cost overruns and time overrun (delays) have been critical problems of many projects around the world in general and in South Africa in particular. The main objectives of this research are to assess the dominant causes of cost and time overruns, identifying possible and practical measures that can minimize overruns in office building construction projects around eThekwini Municipal area of Kwazulu-Natal. These objectives are achieved through the implementation of the research methodologies that are mainly literature review and questionnaire survey conducted to identify and evaluate the significant factors contributing to delay and cost overruns within the projects of interest. A review of literature identified eighty-five variables for delay, grouped in nine major categories and nine variables for cost overruns ranked in their order of importance in three sets based on the responses from the professionals working for the client, consultants and contractors. The agreement among the sets of rankings for delay and cost overruns has also been tested using statistical methods. The result indicates that there is strong agreement on ranking the importance of the individual variables of delay and cost overruns between parties. From each of the three sets of rankings, the twenty most important variables of delay and the three most important variables of cost overrun are identified as critical. Based on overall results, the top five most important causes are contractor’s cash flow problems, delay in progress payments by the client, poor site supervision and management by contractor, inefficient quality control by the contractor during construction leading to rework due to errors, and contractor’s difficulties in financing the project. Out of the 20 most important delay causing variables, three are found to be common between all parties. These are delay in progress payments by the client, delay in delivery and late ordering of material, and insufficient skill of labour. Furthermore, the study reveals that all stakeholders of construction parties are deeply involved in contributing to the causes of the problems. Thus, in order to eliminate or minimize cost and time extension of office construction projects in the eThekwini Municipal area, a joint effort based on teamwork is essential through effective project planning, controlling and monitoring which boils down to putting in place best practice construction project management.

Development of a German-Language Questionnaire to Measure Collective Orientation as an Individual Attitude

2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 91-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Hagemann
Keyword(s):  
Team Performance ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
German Language ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Collective Orientation ◽  
Team Research ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
Individual Variables ◽  
The Individual

Abstract. The individual attitudes of every single team member are important for team performance. Studies show that each team member’s collective orientation – that is, propensity to work in a collective manner in team settings – enhances the team’s interdependent teamwork. In the German-speaking countries, there was previously no instrument to measure collective orientation. So, I developed and validated a German-language instrument to measure collective orientation. In three studies (N = 1028), I tested the validity of the instrument in terms of its internal structure and relationships with other variables. The results confirm the reliability and validity of the instrument. The instrument also predicts team performance in terms of interdependent teamwork. I discuss differences in established individual variables in team research and the role of collective orientation in teams. In future research, the instrument can be applied to diagnose teamwork deficiencies and evaluate interventions for developing team members’ collective orientation.

Fulfilling the Right to Food for South Africa: Justice, Security, Sovereignty and the Politics of Malnutrition

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 112-152
Author(s):  
Busiso Helard Moyo ◽  
Anne Marie Thompson Thow
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Food Sovereignty ◽  
Food Justice ◽  
System Transformation ◽  
Right To Food ◽  
Economic Rights ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Right

Despite South Africa’s celebrated constitutional commitments that have expanded and deepened South Africa’s commitment to realise socio-economic rights, limited progress in implementing right to food policies stands to compromise the country’s developmental path. If not a deliberate policy choice, the persistence of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms is a deep policy failure.  Food system transformation in South Africa requires addressing wider issues of who controls the food supply, thus influencing the food chain and the food choices of the individual and communities. This paper examines three global rights-based paradigms – ‘food justice’, ‘food security’ and ‘food sovereignty’ – that inform activism on the right to food globally and their relevance to food system change in South Africa; for both fulfilling the right to food and addressing all forms of malnutrition. We conclude that the emerging concept of food sovereignty has important yet largely unexplored possibilities for democratically managing food systems for better health outcomes.

Official Advice Improves Mortgage-Holders’ Perceptions of Switching: Experimental Evidence

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shane Timmons
Keyword(s):  
Interest Rate ◽  
Experimental Evidence ◽  
Consumer Protection ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Switching Process ◽  
Competitive Markets ◽  
Protection Agency ◽  
Change Perceptions ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Individual

Encouraging consumers to switch to lower-rate mortgages is important both for the individual consumer’s finances and for functioning competitive markets, but switching rates are low. Given the complexity of mortgages, one potential regulatory intervention that may increase switching rates is to provide independent advice on how to select good mortgage products and how to navigate the switching process. Working with a government consumer protection agency, we conducted an experiment with mortgage-holders to test whether such advice alters perceptions of switching. The experiment tested how (i) the attributes of the offer, (ii) perceptions about the switching process, (iii) individual feelings of competence and (iv) comprehension of the product affect willingness to switch to better offers, both before and after reading the official advice. The advice made consumers more sensitive to interest rate decreases, especially at longer terms. It also increased consumers’ confidence in their ability to select good offers. Overall, the findings imply that advice from policymakers can change perceptions and increase switching rates. Moreover, the experiment demonstrates how lab studies can contribute to behaviourally-informed policy development.

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